Bradenton PD wins honor for neighborhood liaison project

Left to Right (provided photo):
Amy Mercer (Executive Director, FCPA), Star and Shield Group CEO Allen Durham, Captain William Fowler, Tami Spyker (Neighborhood Watch Liaison), Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski, and Chief of Police Dennis Jones (Tallahassee PD and FCPA Immediate Past President) in Bonita Springs.

The City of Bradenton Police Department has received the “Rocky Pomerance Law Enforcement Excellence Award” based on the department’s Neighborhood Liaison Communication Project, The Florida Police Chiefs Association and Star & Shield Group Inc. announced.

The award recognizes outstanding community policing initiatives by small, medium and large law enforcement agencies statewide.

The “Rocky Pomerance Law Enforcement Excellence Award” provides a mechanism for the Florida Police Chiefs Association to recognize member agencies for developing and implementing an innovative approach to policing, according to the release. This award was named for Chief of Police (Ret.) Rocky Pomerance, who has been recognized as exemplifying the image of an innovative and visionary leader who furthered the mission of the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the law enforcement profession within Florida.

The three awards this year:

1. Large Agency (76 Sworn Officers or More) – City of Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton.
2. Medium Agency (31 – 75 Sworn Officers) – Lighthouse Point Police Department, Lighthouse Point
3. Small Agency (1 – 30 Sworn Officers) – Santa Fe Community College Police Department, Gainesville

Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski issued this statement:

“I am very proud of our Neighborhood Liaison Communication Project, and the rapport that it has developed between the Bradenton Police Officers and the residents, this has helped foster the ongoing respect and feeling of teamwork resulting in collateral changes in the target areas including, businesses increased by 17%, home sales increased by 41%, and the crime rate has dropped by 28.8%.

The citizens expressed that their efforts were effective in reducing crime, thereby reducing fear, and increasing the feeling of safety, ownership and teamwork alongside the members of the Bradenton Police Department. This collaborative effort has saved the Bradenton Police Department in excess of 6,000 man-hours and $200,000.00 in taxpayer monies.”

The award ceremony was held last week at the FCPA’s 61st Annual Summer Training Conference and Exposition Banquet in Bonita Springs. Radzilowski, Capt. William Fowler and Tami Spyker, a resident who serves as the Neighborhood Watch Liaison for West Bradenton, attended.